Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/14—Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles
  • A61K9/16—Agglomerates; Granulates; Microbeadlets ; Microspheres; Pellets; Solid products obtained by spray drying, spray freeze drying, spray congealing,(multiple) emulsion solvent evaporation or extraction
  • A61K9/1605—Excipients; Inactive ingredients
  • A61K9/1629—Organic macromolecular compounds
  • A61K9/1652—Polysaccharides, e.g. alginate, cellulose derivatives; Cyclodextrin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/14—Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles
  • A61K9/16—Agglomerates; Granulates; Microbeadlets ; Microspheres; Pellets; Solid products obtained by spray drying, spray freeze drying, spray congealing,(multiple) emulsion solvent evaporation or extraction
  • A61K9/1605—Excipients; Inactive ingredients
  • A61K9/1617—Organic compounds, e.g. phospholipids, fats

Definitions

• Controlied-release compositions in the form of microspheres containing one or more ingredients to be dispensed at a controlled rate, and to the microspheres themselves.
• Controlied-release formulations are used in a number of industries and for a number of types of products such as agricultural products (fertilisers, pesticides, soil nutrients, etc.) drugs and pharmaceuticals, fragrances and cosmetics.
• Controlied-release formulations permit the application of a product containing a relatively concentrated amount of an ingredient which is to be dispensed (sometimes referred to as the "active ingredient”), which is then applied or dispensed relatively slowly and over a relatively long period of time.
• controlied-release formulations also permits the application and handling of materials containing a higher concentration of active ingredient while minimising the possible toxicity consequences of such concentration, since the exposure to the active ingredient is relatively limited in amount at a given time.
• microspheres containing active ingredients may be produced which are dispersible in water so as to be used in conventional spraying equipment.
• microspheres One technique for producing microspheres is known as the "solvent evaporation" technique or process.
• solvent evaporation One technique for producing microspheres.
• an active ingredient is dissolved in a solvent, along with additives and is mixed with an aqueous solution containing a polymer which will form an encapsulating spherical wall.
• the mixture is in the form of an oil-in- water emulsion, with the organic phase in the form of droplets of a polymer surrounding a solution of the active ingredient.
• the solvent (together with the water) is then evaporated to form microspheres.
• a typical process of this type is described in the paper by Tefft, et al, Proc. Int. Symp. Control. Rel. Bioact.
• That article describes preparation of microspheres composed of ethyl cellulose or polyarylsulfone polymer including the herbicide dicamba as the active ingredient, by dissolving dicamba and the polymer in methylene chloride, emulsifying that solution into an aqueous solution containing polyvinyl alcohol and sodium dodecyl sulphate, stirring and evaporating the solvent under vacuum.
• microspheres by the solvent evaporation method can result in microspheres which, while permitting controlled release, nevertheless permit too rapid a release of the active ingredient.
• An overly rapid release may be undesirable in a given situation for the reasons mentioned above, for instance it provides an overdose of, or wastes, the active ingredient.
• This invention comprises the production of microspheres of an ingredient to be dispensed by the solvent evaporation method in which a plasticiser selected from the group consisting of phthalate esters, phosphate esters, citrate esters, sebacate esters, glycerol, triacetin and acetylated monoglyceride, is included.
• a plasticiser selected from the group consisting of phthalate esters, phosphate esters, citrate esters, sebacate esters, glycerol, triacetin and acetylated monoglyceride
• this invention comprises a process for producing microspheres containing an ingredient to be dispensed comprising:
• this invention comprises a process for production of microspheres which are "blank", i.e., do not contain an ingredient to be dispensed. Such blank microspheres can be loaded at a subsequent time with one or more active ingredients.
• the invention herein comprises both the processes mentioned above as well as the products of said processes, blank microspheres or microspheres containing the ingredient to be dispensed.
• Production of the microspheres of this invention is carried out using the solvent- evaporation technique, generally described above, but with the additional inclusion of a plasticiser.
• an organic solution containing a polymer, a plasticiser and (when the microspheres are to be produced "loaded") material to be dispensed ("active ingredient")
• an aqueous solution containing an emulsifying agent This solution may contain polyvinyl alcohol, which may serve as an emulsifying agent and/or to control viscosity.
• the two solutions are then combined under conditions so as to form an emulsion of the organic phase in the aqueous phase, which is then converted to an encapsulated product comprising microspheres composed of a polymer and plasticising agent (and containing the ingredient to be dispensed), by evaporating the solvent, either under heat or vacuum.
• the polymer utilised in the process according to this invention may be selected from a wide number of types known to be useful in producing controlied-release formulations. These include both synthetic polymers as well as naturally-occurring polymers and their derivatives.
• Synthetic polymers include, for instance, vinyl polymers, polyamides, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyesters, acrylates, methacrylates, polyarylsulfone, acrylate- methacryiate copolymers, and poly(ethylene oxide) polymeric resins such as those sold under the trade mark POLYVOX.
• Naturally-occurring polymers and their derivatives include materials such as cellulosic materials, starches, lignins, vegetable gums, alginates, and derivatives thereof such as polysaccharides, proteins, shellac, and resins.
• the polymer may also be a blend of one or more of the above synthetic or naturally-occurring materials.
• the plasticiser utilised in the process of this invention is selected from phthalate esters, phosphate esters, citrate esters, sebacate esters, glycerole, triacetin, and acetylated monoglyceride.
• plasticisers of the above types include dimethyl, diethyl, dipropyl, dibutyl, dibutoxyethyl and dioctyl phthalates; tricresyl and triphenyl phosphates; triethyl, tributyl, and acetyl tributyl citrates; and dibutyl sebacate.
• Preferred polymers for use in the process according to this invention are cellulosic polymers and derivatives thereof.
• Preferred plasticisers are phthalate esters.
• plasticiser for use with a given polymer is within the skill of those in the art and, in general, any of the types of plasticisers mentioned above may be combined or used with any of the polymers mentioned above, with the choice of plasticisers being made to achieve optimum effects.
• the ingredient to be dispensed may be a chemical or other ingredient for use in agriculture, a pharmaceutical or other medicinal ingredient, a fragrance, a cosmetic, or any other type of ingredient for which a controlled release or dispensing is desirable.
• Agricultural materials include pesticides (for instance herbicide, insecticides, fungicides, bactericides and the like), plant growth regulators, fertilisers, and soil nutrients.
• the microspheres may contain more than one ingredient to be dispensed, for instance a combination of two or more pesticides or two or more pharmaceuticals.
• Preferred agricultural materials include the pesticides lambda-cyhalothrin [1 ⁇ (S*), 3 ⁇ (Z)]-( ⁇ )cyano-(3-phenoxybenzyl)-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate, paraquat [1,1 '-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride or other salts], napropramide (N,N-diethyl-2-( ⁇ -naphthoxy)propionamide) and fluazifop-butyl ⁇ butyl (R or RS)-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-phenoxy]propanoate ⁇ .
• the solvent utilised in the process is chosen from among typical solvents on the basis of three properties. First, the solvent must dissolve the polymer, the plasticiser and the ingredient to be dispensed (if the microspheres are to be produced "loaded").
• the solvent preferably should have a relatively low boiling point so as to be easily removed through evaporation.
• the solvent must be water-immiscible. Suitable solvents include hydrocarbons such as pentane, hexane, heptane, cyclohexane and the like, and chlorinated solvents such as dichloromethane.
• the emulsifying agent may be any of a number of types known to cause emulsions to form when organic and aqueous phases are mixed.
• Typical emulsifying agents include surfactants such as polyethylene glycol ethers of linear alcohols, ethoxylated nonylphenols, naphthalene sulphonates, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, alkali metal/alkyl sulphates and other salts, and the like.
• the organic phase will typically contain from about 1 to about 50 weight per cent polymer and from about 0.1 to about 20 weight per cent plasticiser, depending on the nature of the polymer, plasticiser and solvent.
• the aqueous phase will typically contain from about 0.1 to about 20 weight per cent of emulsifying agent and optionally from about 1 to about 30 weight per cent polyvinyl alcohol.
• the composition of the final microsphere product will be from about 5 to about 80 weight per cent polymer, from about 0.5 to about 10 weight per cent of the plasticiser, and up to about 70 weight per cent of the ingredient to be dispensed.
• the microspheres will be from about 3 to about 300 microns in diameter.
• microspheres using cellulosic polymers for example ethyl cellulose
• solvent-evaporation method for instance, production of very small microspheres (0.2-1 microns diameter) from plasticised ethyl cellulose polymers is described by Ghebre-Sellassie et al., Pharmaceutical Technology, page 96 (September 1988).
• microspheres were produced for use in a controlied-release film to be coated over an ingredient to be dispensed rather than to contain the ingredient.
• microspheres, which are approximately 0.2-1 micron diameter are much smaller than those of the present invention (between about 3 and about 300 microns diameter).
• Tefft et al. work does produce microspheres of sizes similar to those produced by the present invention, and which did contain an ingredient to be dispensed (dicamba herbicide).
• dicamba herbicide an ingredient to be dispensed
• Tefft et al. who did not use a plasticiser, were in the shape of thin-walled hollow spheres containing dicamba whereas those produced by the present process are not hollow spheres, but have a spongy structure which may permit the ingredient to be released at a slower rate.
• Advantages of such a slower dispensing rate include lower toxicity of material to handlers, and a more controlled use of ingredient.
• the microspheres of this invention may be produced "blank", that is without containing an ingredient to be dispensed. Such ingredient may be added at a later date, for instance by soaking or dipping the microspheres in a solution of the ingredient, spraying the ingredient on the spheres or mixing the ingredient and spheres in a mixer. Blank microspheres are produced by carrying out the process as described herein except that an ingredient to be dispensed is not included.
• blank microspheres to be loaded later will be advantageous in several situations. For example, if long-term storage of encapsulated products is likely to occur, the active ingredient could begin to migrate out of the capsules during storage. Production of blank capsules would permit separate long-term storage of the capsules and the active ingredient, with the vinyl "loaded" product produced relatively shortly before expected use. Also, production of blank microspheres may be advantageous in a multi- product plant in which microspheres are to be loaded with different ingredients to be dispensed.
• the size of the microspheres depends to a great extend on the speed with which the emulsion is stirred. The higher the stirring speed, the smaller the droplet of active ingredient plus polymer formed in the aqueous solution. Preferred stirring speeds are 500-2,500 rpm.
• the resulting microspheres form a dry, free-flowing powder which can have a high loading of the active ingredient or ingredient to be dispensed. Furthermore, the process for the production can be carried out at room temperature and does not require elevated temperatures or expensive capital equipment.
• Ethyl cellulose (ethoxyl content 48%), was dissolved in dichloromethane to produce a 3.5% weight/volume polymer solution. Then, the indicated amount of diethyl phthalate was dissolved into that solution, followed by indicated amounts of the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin. The amounts of lambda-cyhalothrin were chosen to provide between 100 to 300 weight per cent of that substance relative to the amount of polymer dissolved in the solution.
• the solution was then emulsified into an aqueous solution containing 5 weight per cent polyvinyl alcohol and, at times, 0.01 weight per cent sodium dodecyl sulphate.
• the mixture was then stirred for 15 minutes at room temperature at the indicated speeds; then a mercury vacuum (approximately 25 inch) was applied to remove the dichloromethane solvent.
• the microspheres were collected by filtration, re-suspended in water containing 0.5 weight per cent sodium dodecyl sulphate, and dried.
• microcapsules prepared according to the invention were compared with those prepared according to the comparison example, by scanning electron microscope and regular microscope. It was observed that the microspheres prepared according to this invention were roughly spheroidal with an uneven outer surface and high porosity whereas those prepared according to the comparison example had smooth spherical surfaces with only a few pores visible. Both types of microspheres were cut by a razor and again viewed. Those produced by the process of this invention were shown to have a highly porous surface and a highly porous internal structure as well, resembling a sponge. On the other hand, those produced in the comparison example appeared to have hollow cores with a number of small holes on the outer shell. This combination of porous, spongy structure makes the microspheres of the invention eminently suitable for applications in which a high loading of material to be dispensed, combined with a slow release rate, is desirable.

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• 1997
  • 1997-11-27 EP EP97945962A patent/EP1033976B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-11-27 AU AU51284/98A patent/AU5128498A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-11-27 DE DE69736567T patent/DE69736567T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-11-27 WO PCT/GB1997/003260 patent/WO1999027910A1/en active IP Right Grant

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